UPDATE 5PM: Western Highway activists have left the VicRoads' office after about 90 minutes sitting in front of the office.
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UPDATE 3.45PM: Western Highway activists are staging a sit in at VicRoads' office in Ararat this afternoon. They arrived about 3pm.
About 50 activists are sitting quietly out the front of the office with signs.
An activist told the Ararat Advertiser VicRoads staff had locked the office and called police but they "weren't there to cause any trouble".
They intended to stay until the office closes which is 4.30pm.
Former Greens MP Lidia Thorpe was at VicRoads and has spoken in favour of the protest.
UPDATE 1.30PM: Major Road Projects Victoria has refused the extension requested by lawyer for the activists Michael Kennedy.
Mr Kennedy said he will press the federal government to put the request to MRPV today.
"As in the past, they ignore my requests but they do act on an identical request by the federal department," he said.
Mr Kennedy said he is finalizing his application to join MRPV as a respondent.
UPDATE 11.15AM: Lawyer for the Djab Wurrung activists Michael Kennedy has clarified that the legal proceedings the activists are waiting on today do not concern an injunction.
"The injunction issue does not arise - yet," he said.
"I have given Major Road Projects Victoria until noon today to grant an extension to not act after August 22, (not) to destroy the area or to act to evict or arrest the protest group, until a decision of the federal court on the originating application for judicial review (is made)."
Mr Kennedy lodged the application on August 13, and received as a sealed (stamped) document on August 19.
"I informed MRPV yesterday that if an extension is not committed by noon today, I shall apply to the court for leave to join MRPV as a respondent in the proceedings, and for such injunctive relief as the court may decide," he said.
UPDATE 10.45AM: Activist and lore man Zellanach Djab Mara is unable to speak to the media after Victoria Police put a suppression order in place.
Activists are at the camp awaiting the decision from the federal court.
UPDATE 9.45am: The lawyer for the activists, Michael Kennedy, is seeking an injunction from the federal court today to stop work and not evict or arrest activists at the Western Highway campsite.
He expects a decision by noon.
EARLIER: Numbers of supporters have swelled, but the atmosphere remains calm at the Djab wurrung campsite on the Western Highway at Buangor.
For 14 months, people have camped at the site protesting the duplication route they say would impact many culturally significant trees.
A fortnight ago, Major Road Projects Victoria issued an eviction notice to activists so works could recommence.
Works already started last week. It is unclear as to whether the 14 days notice to move on concludes on Wednesday or Thursday.
The Ararat Advertiser is at the campsite this morning, where the atmosphere remains calm and peaceful. People are sitting around the campfire drinking tea and chatting.
People are participating in a "tree sit" and ropes and other equipment attached to some trees are clearly visible.
There is no sign of Major Road Projects Victoria officials or police yet.
People continue to arrive at the camp, where a makeshift car park is full. An additional 30 to 40 vehicles are parked on the roadside opposite the camp, on the corner of Warrayatkin and the highway.
Stawell and Ararat police refused to comment this morning about the pending eviction.
More to come.
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